LOS ANGELES, Sept 26 (Reuters) - When Joaquin Phoenix

reprised his role as the Joker in the new movie sequel about the

DC Comics villain he learned that the filmmakers wanted to focus

on music in a new way.

"They were kind of talking about this musical element,

which, of course, was such a big part of the first film, but not

quite like this," Phoenix told Reuters, referring to "Joker:

Folie a Deux" which will be released soon.

"It felt like in some ways a natural extension and yet

something that felt entirely new at the same time," he added.

The film won the best soundtrack award at this year's Venice

Film Festival.

American director Todd Phillips' 2019 iteration of "Joker"

received high praise with 11 Oscar nominations along with two

wins, including a best actor award for Phoenix.

Phillips returned to direct "Joker: Folie a Deux," which is

distributed by Warner Bros Pictures, and takes place two

years after the events of the earlier film.

Phoenix reprises his role as mentally ill criminal Arthur

Fleck, AKA the Joker, and singer Lady Gaga plays Harleen "Lee"

Quinzel, AKA Harley Quinn, who is a patient at Arkham State

Hospital.

While Fleck is institutionalized at Arkham, awaiting trial

for his crimes as Joker, he and Quinzel fall in love and

illustrate their feelings through music.

"Joker: Folie a Deux" has its international theatrical

release on Oct. 2 and its U.S. release on Oct. 4.

Throughout the film, Joker struggles to cope with his

identities as both Fleck and Joker.

"Everybody probably can identify with this idea of maybe

your true nature or your private nature versus your presented or

projected image," Phoenix said.

"Because we all do that in some way in our own lives," he

added, highlighting the complexities of his character's

personas.

Lady Gaga found a connection to Joker's two identities when

considering her own real-life identities, as both professional

singer Lady Gaga as well as her birth name Stefani Germanotta.

"I think sometimes we all make versions of ourselves to help

us understand who we are," she said. "It's a way for us to

communicate. It's a way to find another path to making our

mark."

The theme of identity is expanded by showing how the media

can shape how people are perceived, which is displayed in the

film when Joker's court case is televised.

For Phillips, Joker's trial is sensationalized the same way

that the U.S. presidential debate is "sold as a UFC fight," he

said, and becomes what he termed "nonsense" projected by the

media.

"If that becomes entertainment, then what is entertainment?"

Phillips said. "Do you know what I mean? It's like this

corruption of entertainment."